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A.R. Rahman Performs with Pharrell Williams during the Oscars

An array of all-star musicians made up the Oscar house band on Sunday night, as the group consisted of award-winning film scorer Hans Zimmer (Inception, The Dark Knight), Hip Hop producer Pharrell Williams (Jay-Z, Madonna), as well as Bollywood composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours).

This marked Rahman's third time performing on the Oscar stage, as he lent vocals and played the piano all throughout the night's festivites.

Rahman even tweeted a photo of him and the super-group, which he commented by saying "Our Oscar Superband" (the picture can be seen below)

Rahman is no stranger to collaborating with the very best at the Oscars, as in 2009 he performed alongside R&B artist John Legend for a colorful rendition of "Jai Ho/Oh Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire, while last year he collaborated with Florence & The Machine songstress Florence Welch on the song "Til I Rise" from 127 Hours.

Check out A.R. Rahman's "Oscar Sangamam" below:

 

- Naveet Nanwa

Music mavens are ok with IN-glish songs

When he launched his first song Kolaveri online, it created viral history.

Now, Dhanush has gone ahead and released his second song - Sachin Anthem, which got 4.3 lakh views within the first 24 hours of its release and 2 million hits in four days.

While the song seems like a twin of Kolaveri, Dhanush said on his micro-blogging site, "The song was not made four any other purpose than my love for Sachin. And I did whatever I know :) and that's not much. Hehe...And d song is in IN-glish again 4 only 1 reason. I wanted every1 4m all parts of India 2 understand it since its about Sachin."

Will this unleashing of a 'glocal' (global-local) form of English - IN-glish be a force to reckon with in the music industry? Or is it a passing online phase that will die a natural death?

About time

Indian Ocean is one of the most popular band on the rock scene today. So, ask its lead singer Rahul Ram about the IN-glish song says, "It's about time we sung English songs in the way we speak. In the US too, Bob Marley did it, Harry Belafonte did it and so many singers who sung the blues too had heavy southern Misissipi accents; and they were all mainstream singers whose songs featured regularly on chartbusters. Kolaveri and the Sachin Anthem have proved that Indian English songs can be popular."

Sound connects

If the popularity of Dhanush's songs are anything to go by, it's only reflecting the globalisation of music. Says Punjabi pop singer Jasbir Jassi, "Music is about sound, and if the sound connects then music sees no geographical or linguistic boundaries. Look at Punjabi music; not many understand the words, but see the kind of remixes that are happening. That's why I think a Kolaveri or a Sachin Anthem connects. Dhanush is treading a different path to make his music heard, which is good."

COOL nomenclature

For Daler Mehndi, whose Tunak Tunak released in 1998 and became an internet rage, the INglish or "whatever" never mattered in music and never will.

He says, "Anyone may come up with interesting nomenclature HInglish/Inglish et al; finally it's music that sells - either through the unique performances, words and rhythm, or melody. Ricky Martin, Baba Sehgal, Ashaji - all of them sing English in their own accents. I sang English the way I chose to, so it's not really a big breaking ground point. Anyone who wishes to stand apart will find a new way to do so."

This article first appeared HERE.

Kailash Kher to perform at World Sufi Fest

Singer Kailash Kher is set to serenade music lovers with his soulful Sufi renditions at the fourth edition of the World Sufi Spirit Festival, supported by international singer Sting.

The festival will be held Feb 16-21 in Nagaur and Jodhpur.

The Royal family of Jodhpur will play host to some of the leading Sufi exponents from across the borders, with the serene Mehrangarh Fort as the backdrop for the very first time.

Organised by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, the festival will see Sufi artists from Egypt, Iran, Zanzibar, Pakistan, Tajikistan and China come together to perform in Jodhpur along with the traditional Rajasthani folk musicians displaying the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan.

"The World Sufi Spirit Festival is an humble step towards preserving and encouraging the sacred art of Sufism. Our endeavour is to create a huge platform for national and international Sufi exponents to come together and create an extraordinary enriching experience for one and all," Maharaja Gaj Singh II said in a statement.

"We look forward to showcasing the talent of our versatile folk performers at the beautiful and legendary Mehrangarh Fort," he added.

The festival will feature Indian and international performers such as Kailash Kher, the Nayiks, Sonam Kalra, Kalakar children, Mehardeen Khan, Sher Khan, the Rajasthan Langa troupe, Darbar Morchang Party and the Teratali dancers & singers.

Among the international performers are Wang Li (China), Fareed Ayyaz and Party (Pakistan), Tanourah Sufi Dance (Egypt), Vahdat sisters (Iran), Mtendeni Maulid Ensemble (Zanzibar), The Musicians of The Nile and Deba ritual from Mayotte, Africa.

"We are spirits in a material world… Join the Sufi Spirit World Festival at Nagaur-Jodhpur and experience the magic. This is a wonderful opportunity for India to combine its spiritual heritage with the beauty of sacred music and dance," said Sting in a statement.

(IANS) New Delhi

Listen to one of Kailash's soulful Sufi songs!

 

WORLD PREMIERE: Give Me All Your Luvin' - Madonna (Feat. M.I.A. & Nicki Minaj)

 

Recently released! Madonna's new video entitled "Give Me All Your Luvin" Featuring M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj.

Madonna, M.I.A. and Nicki performed this track during halftime at the Superbowl in an amazing performance. So if you missed it, feast your eyes on the video.

The video is surley interesting as it features football players, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. as cheerleaders and an ode to Marylin Monroe by all three towards the end.

What do you think of Madonna's new video? What's your thoughts  on the M.I.A. feature?

Leave your comments below!

M.I.A. Returns with “Bad Girls”

Just in time for her potential Superbowl performance, Maya Arulpragasam aka M.I.A. returns with her first single since her 2010 smash /\/\ /\ Y /\, entitled "Bad Girls". 

The single,which was produced by Danja (Britney Spears, Diddy, Missy Elliot), originally appeared on her mixtape Vicki Leekx and has M.I.A. spitting hypnotic lyrics over a Middle Eastern soundtrack, which is sure to nod heads worldwide.

M.I.A., who is highly rumoured to be appearing with Madonna during this Sunday’s Superbowl Halftime show, is planning to release her new album this summer. 

“Bad Girls” not only does a good job at building the anticipation to that release, but it also paints a promising picture as to the direction of her new music.The music video is just as interesting as the song, as it sees the star in a Middle Eastern desert with a backdrop of dancers dressed in hijab attire and a bunch of car drivers speeding on outer city roads.

M.I.A. also has a collaboration with Madonna and rapper Nicki Minaj in the works entitled “Give Me All Your Luvin”, which will be the lead single off of Madonna’s new album. (Click HERE for the new Video).

With all of this and more coming in the next few months, M.I.A. is definitely an artist to watch in 2012. 

Check out the video for "Bad Girls" Below:

 

-Naveet Nanwa